August 04, 2021: In commemoration of Eid al-Adha, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met virtually August 3 with 12 Muslim frontline workers, including Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards, Principal Medical Officer, Ministry of Health – Institutions. The meeting placed a spotlight on the participants’ embodiment of the universal values of selflessness and compassion in service to improving the lives of others.
Dr. Abdool-Richards was one of only two participants from the Western Hemisphere. Other participants were from Bangladesh, Brazil, Comoros, Italy, Jordan, Malaysia, Mali, North Macedonia, Philippines, Tunisia, and Uzbekistan.
Since the onset of the pandemic, Dr. Abdool-Richards has served as a member of the Ministry of Health’s executive leadership team responsible for the management of the parallel health care system. This includes keeping Trinbagonians informed of COVID-19 developments through regular briefings hosted by the government of Trinidad and Tobago.
Secretary Blinken, joined by Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya, underscored the importance the United States places on engaging with these valued government and civil society partners, and praised their contributions and sacrifices to keep people safe during the pandemic. The Secretary emphasized that their selfless efforts to ensure the public good during a time of terrible loss and suffering was a clear and vibrant manifestation of the recent Eid al-Adha holiday spirit.